We would like to share an update regarding the activities of the project “Enhancing Opportunities for Roma Social-Medical Mediators in Ukraine,” which took place on May 21, 2015.
The purpose of this project meeting was to discuss feedback on the text of the State Standard for providing social services related to representing the interests of individuals/communities from national minorities (hereinafter referred to as the “Standard”). The feedback had been provided by representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.
During the meeting, participants discussed amendments and additions to include categories such as victims of human trafficking, violence, individuals affected by military conflicts, and people with disabilities.
Considerable attention was given to the discussion and clarification of terms contained within the Standard. This included topics such as the discontinuation of a social service, contra-indications for not providing it, the recipients and potential recipients, as well as their identification.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the issue of children who are not subjects of service provision since they are unable to independently receive a social service without their parents.
The meeting of the project workgroup also covered matters such as the medical record of a social worker, documentation, journals, plans, and the results of evaluations.
As a result of this workgroup meeting, it was decided to provide the processed feedback to representatives of the Department for Elderly Affairs and Social Services of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. Furthermore, an explanatory note was to be sent to the Director of the Department for Children’s Rights Protection and Adoption, R. Kovbasa, regarding the fact that the feedback from the department, which he leads, was not accepted since a child is not a recipient of a social service.
P.S. The project “Enhancing Opportunities for Roma Social-Medical Mediators in Ukraine” is being implemented with the support of the “Roma Health” program of the International Renaissance Foundation and the “Roma Program Initiative” of the International Renaissance Foundation. For more details about the activities of Roma mediators, please visit the website: http://www.chirikli.com.ua/index.php/ua/biblioteka/item/43-romski-medychni-poserednyky-v-ukraini-dosiahnennia-vyklyky-mozhlyvosti, as well as the Legal Space website: http://legalspace.org/index.php/ua/romski-poseredniki-u-sferi-okhoroni-zdorov-ya
